The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, has requested the Centre for additional gas allocation for power projects in the State and financial assistance of Rs 1,028 crore to host the Bio-diversity Summit.

During his visit to Delhi, Mr Reddy called on the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and requested allocation of natural gas for state power projects, Rs 3,000-crore financial assistance for drought relief and Rs 1,028 crore for the UN Biodiversity Conference to be held in Hyderabad later this year.

According to a statement, during his interaction, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to grant national project status to Indira Sagar Polavaram Project and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanti Projects.

Dr Singh was requested to direct people concerned to allocate additional three million standard cubic feet for a day (mscmd) of gas to enable additional generation of 700 MW from the gas-based projects, now short of gas, to run plants at optimum capacity.

The Chief Minister sought to explain that the multi-purpose Rs 16,010 crore Polavaram project will benefit AP and other States and needs to be accorded national project status.

The project is already getting 25 per cent of Central assistance under accelerated irrigation benefit programme. By according national project status, it would be able to get 90 per cent Central assistance.

With the Central Water Commission according in-principle clearance to the Rs 38,500 crore Pranahita Project, financial assistance will enable the State to expedite its implementation, he said.

> vrishi@thehindu.co.in

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